Maintenance of serological memory.
Long-lived plasma cells are key to maintaining long-term humoral immunity after infection or vaccination. Some vaccines and/or infections induce antibody levels that remain stable for the life of the individual. However, the mechanism whereby these long-lived plasma cells are maintained over long periods of time remains an open question. Furthermore, given a finite number of sustainable plasma cells within the bone marrow, it is also unclear how space for newly induced plasma cells is generated without compromising the pre-existing repertoire. Here we review the current understanding of these important issues.
Wrammert
Jens
J
Emory Vaccine Center and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. wrammert@microbio.emory.edu
Ahmed
Rafi
R
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology*; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies